Mail receiving and delivering mechanism for railways.



No. 827,056. PATRNTRD JULY 24, 1906.

' I. H. BURR` MAIL RECEIVING AND DRLIVRRING MRGHANISM IoR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED .D1-10.16. 1905,

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

' PATENTE!) JULY 24, 1906 F. H. BURR.

RAILWAYS.

MAIL RECEIVING AND DE LIVERING MBGHANISM POR 4APPLICATION FILED 1320.16,1905.

4@SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H2517 asses I. H. BURR. MAIL RECEIVING AND IIBLIVBRING MEGIIANISM IORRAIL APPLICATION FILED DBO.1 6. 1905.

WAYS.4

Wfbsses.'

-PATENTED JULY 24, 1906.

l 3 SHEETS-SHEET s.

,i r UNITED srirrnsi PATENT OFFICE.

- ,FnANKLIN'n BURR, onfArnANne-IOWA, AssieNoR ro- RAiLWAY nin.

Eon'irnnnr oo., or ennn'sronnpsourn DAKorA, .i oonroairior.

i MML Rtenvme'ANDf-DLNERING MEcHANlsM For RAILWAYS.

To al whfmt it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN H. BURR,-a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Atlantic, in the county oi Cass and the State of' AIowa,hav'ednvented tert-ain neviT and useful Improvements in Mail Receivingand Delivering Mechanism i'or 4Railvvensgaand I do declare thefollowingto be a fuil, clear, and exact description 4of the invention, such vaswill lenable others skilled inthe art to 'which it appertainsl to makeand use the same.

. This invention reiates to receiving and de- -A the delivery devices.

It consists,- in' combinationwith a car, of a delivering-frame arrangedinV thev doorway thereof, of a hinge pivotally connecting vsaid frame-i.to said car, andnmeans 'for swinging said .frame upon said, hinge.

--It 'also consists, in combinationiwith' a oar,

of a catcher-crane pivotally connected theretoand a trigger or automaticarm pivotally connected to said catcher-crane and means for iautomatically operating said ltrigger-arm '.land :claimed upon saidpivotal connections.

It also consists of certain other novel con-y structions, combinations,and arrangements oi'parts, asvvill be hereinafter Vfully described It isfurther intended to provide Aa simple, durable, and efficientconstruction and one readil adapted to mail-cars now in use.y

" l In t e5 drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan fview of the car,showing the arrangement of 4' matic-sel venting valve.

the air-pi es',- cylinders, levers, and the auto- Fig. 2 is a side L-elevation of the appliances inside of the car.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the operating` valve- With, itsframe-support cut away.

4'54 A ences on the outside of the car. Fig 5 1s a lpelis active-view ofthe operating-camand 4 is a perspective view of the car applil cra'',connectiiinthereto Fig-6 is a vertical o fsb Y 'vgerami 'andcatcher-crane.

vcross-sectionai view' "othe' delivery-frame and its auxiliaryappliances along line from "Ego Fig. 7 is a Vperspactive 'view'of theen'.

,vieivoi cam locking device of the trig- Specification 'of LettersAPatent. appunti@ and Dewinter 16,1905. seen No. 292.055.

rig. armi4 rasanten .my 24,1906.

receiving-box equipment at a station. Fig. 1Q is'aperspective view of amail-craneV equipment at -a station. Fig. 11` is a perspective view of acar equipped with these appliances ready for operation'. Fig. 12 isaperspective view of; the slotted automatic bar.

In the drawings, Aay denote the car, and Bb denote the door oi `the car.

A is the compressed-air-operating cylinder cut away, showing thepiston-rodand return coil-spring .ee encircling the piston-rod, theoperating-lever b being pivoted to the pistonrod at point b andconnected to the piston by means of piston-rod ee. When the compressedair is admitted to the operating-cylinder through suppl v-pi Je a behindthe pis-, tonjf, the piston-ro is t rown out, as shown` by dotted lines,carrying the operating-lever to position, (shown by dotted lines,) thedelivery-'frame E in turn being connected by chain to operating-lever b.f' The swinging of frame E from a horizontal position in the car Ac to aperpendicular position, to the" position .shown in Fig. 4. The upsettingor change of position of the delivery-frame E the operating-lever bupsets the deliveringdischarges the mail or other matter placed on thedelivery-frame for thatpurpose. The coilspring ee returns the pistonando eratinglever'to their normal positions rea y for the nextoperation.

t is a cheek-valve and preserves the pressure of the air in the mailauxiliary when the air-pressure isre'duced'in the regular auxillaryreser` sure in the operating ofthe air-brake system.

C, Fig. 4, is the regular catcher-crane now 'ingeneral use on allrailroads and is hung inv the doorway of a mail-car in the usual inannerand rocks up into position t'o makethe catch andv when ,released fromoperative position falls by gravity into its normal posivoir by reasonof the use of the pres' The return of the piston jf 85 with theoperating-lever to their normal posithird, closing as an operating andopening as a Venting-valve, or a triple valve in one, open- .ing andclosing in an automatic manner,

six operations.

in operation the valve-lift a, automatically .connected to the operatingtrigger-arm, lifts valve n by means of valve-stems, which is a rigidpart of' valve n, that slides up and down through its supporting-frameto the valveseat n. By this means the valve is closed slackenedcondition.

as a venting-valve and opened as a checkvalve by raising valve m fromits seat m and admits the compressed' air from the eXtra or mailauxiliary compressed-air reservoir into the operating-cylinder throughsupply-pipe c into port r and through outlet d and pipe 0/ into theoperating-'cylinder A, Fig.. l.

The valve m is iitted with a sleeve d, into which the smaller portion ofvalve-stem sworks up and down in raising valve m from its seat Thebottom part of the sleeve d is fitted with a piece of leather for acushion for the valve-stem S or the portion that .slides in the sleeve dto keep this portion of the abuttal end of the stems from upsetting ordlenlargingby concussion, so that they would stick together, for stickingtogether would in a measure destroy the com.-

l.plete automatic action of the valve D. The

valve 'n to complete its functions drops lower down in its port n thanit raises Valve m in its-port m. For'this reason the valve-stem s mustalways slide in the sleeve d.

The compressed air being admitted to the operating-cylinder A and saidcylinder being fitted with piston, and piston-rod pivoted tooperating-lever b, and operating-lel) being connected to thedelivery-frame E, behind the pstonj, forces the piston and itsconnections, the A operating-lever Zi, into the position shown by thedotted lines of the lever in Fig; 1. The operating-lever l) beingconnected by chain b to the delivery-frame E, then the movement or" theoperating-lever into the position shown by the dotted lines of the lever1n Fig. l causes the delivery-frame E to upset and dump the mail orother packages placed thereon for the purposes of delivery.

- The valve-lift a is conncctedtothe operating-lever b by means of thechain a in a When the operatinglever bis pushed info th. position shownby the dotted lines of lever b in Fig. 1 by the action of the compressedair behind the piston at the last part of the movement of the lever bthe slack is drawn out of chain a at the same time and movement,carrying the valve-lift a to the position shown in Fig. l of valve-lifta by the dotted lines.- Whenthe valve-lift a is in this position, thestem s and `valve n are deprived of their support and by means of theair-pressure in pipes and connections forces valve n'and stem s, whichis a part ofthe valve, to the bottom of port and into their normal oroperative position for the neXt operation. The valve 'm being deprivedof the support of valve n drops to its seat mby gravity and theair-pressure ,Y

behind it in the eXtra or mail auxiliary reservoir B and checks the flowof air-pressure into the operating-cylinder A. The valve n drops downwhen deprived of its support, valve-lift a, in its port n below theventholes p by reason of gravity and force of airpressure behind it.This action releases the pressure of air in the operating-cylinder andallows it to iiow back through its supply-pipe and out at the vent-holesp. The valve D is then a venting-valve. The release of thepressurebehind the piston in the operating-cylinder A allows' thecoil-spring ce to return thepiston and the operating-lever b, by meansof its connection to the piston-rod of the piston ]jr, to their normalor operating positions, as shown/in Fig. l.

The valve D is made ofthe material in general usemfor the constructionof valves. The detail view shows that thel operating portions of thevalve are constructed in diametrical opposition to each other, areautomatically connected, and depend on each other for their opposingoperating functions. The automatic and self-venting valve D as a whole,Fig. 3, as constructed operates only when set for use in a perpendicularmanner. Gravity being a feature of its operation, to use set in ahorizontal mafl 1er would require coil-springs to take the place ofgravity.

E'is thefdelivery-rame, pivotally hinged to the car Aa, to the sill ofthe car M, and underneath the door of the car by means of lugs LL. The`pivotal connections at LL are made to the hinge J. The double hingeallows the delivery-frame to be pulled up-into the car and placed intheposition shown of the delivery-frame in the dotted lines in Fig. 6 andin position for the mail or other packages to be placed thereon fordelivery, as is shown in Fig. 1l. When the delivery-frame 'is in thisposition, the bail or back wall g is thrown back, as isshown in Fig. 6.When in this position, it serves as a back wall for the delivery-frameE, to keep the mail or other matter placed on it for delivery fromslipping off from the delivery-frame', by its sudden and violent actionin operation, it also directs in part4 the angle of thedescent of themail or IIO 5 when the-d rveryzframe E is raised ma;

the car for operation, it is dumped or upset by the action of theoperating-cylinder A and its connections, the lever b and chain b',connected to the delivery-frame E at' lw. In dumping or upsettingthedeliveryffr-ame E it irst turns-on its pivotal point-s JJ until thelocking-rod jf intercepts-the hingel J. At this point thefdelivery-frameE, Iin connection with the hinge J ,forms a crank that compels the hingeto turn on it'spivotal oints at 77'; In the upsetting operation of t edelivery-frame' E'it is first upset to anangle of about forty-five deees. Then. it is thrown out and down by t e'fact of its turning n thehinge J first on its lower pivotal points j and then on all its pivotalpoints-.and ina descending manner Vat about an angle of fortyivedegrees.' y The ybail g, in connection with thedelivery-rame E and thechain-guide holds the frame" at this angle, andthe bail or\ back wall gpushes the mail or other pack- *ages` placed on vthe frame to bedelivered at this angle required 'inthe u setting and dumping ofthedelivery-frame The locking-rod j"is cushioned with rubber around' `it,and is placed parallel with the hinge J in the delivery-frame E, Fiv. 4.rllhe open space EE in the'delivery.. aine E lmakes a' step whenhangingy in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, as a meansorgettinginto the car. When'the delivery-frame is `in operative position, asshown in dotted lines,

Fig.A 6, the space EE ,formsa space 'large enough for a mail sack orpouch to vsag ,intoit andy keep itfrom slipping'off from'the frameE..

f is an automatic latch pivoted to the side of the car 'and is adaptedto latch the .frame i to the'side ofthe car to keep' the-'deliveryframeE from vibrating or tipping when the iary compressed-airmageservgiifj'tothe comitof-a parallel-positiontthecarand rocking" frame is inthe'position as shown 'in Fig. 4.' The latch f latches the frame E byWeight of the frame in 4its descent in operation, causing the latch torise on its heavy end when the frame strikes the angle of the latch nextthe frame and providing means fort-he frame to ass behindthe latch to alatchingposition. nl raising the. frame E into the car 1t is raised. ata diiierent angle than. its descending angle and is raised out oftheila'tch',f.e., the frame' rises out of latch, but descends intolatch, therefore making, a complete automatic latclL'.

F is the trigger or automatic operatingarm that Vby reason of itscontact with the Yr'oller-bra'c'kt N, Fig..y10, which -is attached to'the nihil-crane post, Fig. 10,.by,means of a car vinfmotio'ii andthenecessary automatic 'eonnectiohs to the' ,automaticand self-venting vave D, Fig. 3, opens the valveadmit'- ting the compressed au'fromlthe'mail auxil- .pressed-air-operating cylinder A, thereby set#tingin motion the mechanism that willreceive'a'nd lock a inail-pouch tothe catcher C, i

as shown in'Fig. 7,. and deliver from the car mail-sacks, pouches, andother packages that' are placed on the delivery-rameE for deliv- 9,placed at the track side to safety and. regularity.

receive it with `The trigger and automatic operatingarm l ery from thecar into the receiving-box, Fig. A

F and sack-'locking device'are two pieces fj Lshaped lat pieces of steelthat loop arund the gooseneck oi' thelcatcherLcraue and-curve togetherat c in the tri ger-arm F' and clamp the trigger between t e twoflatL-sha ed' pieces y means of bolts that are rub er-I cushioned around thebolts for the purpose of removing the shock of the impact of thetrigger-arm F against the roller-bracket that' 1s the contact-pointoflthis automatic mech'.-

'anism on the mail-crane post,v Fig. 10. l'The' L-shaped portionof thetriggerlarm-makes 4 the sack-locking mechanism 'ofthe catcher C 'and isoperatedin an automatic manner by `the operation ofv the trigger-arminits'auto# matic operation :byfco'ntact "with rollerc bracket, that.is` attachedto the lmail-crane I post, Fig. 10. The -twoilatl L-'shaped'pieces'- o'steel are pivoted. to'thec'atcherC- at point l y androcks-back' on the catcher-'crane to the rubber cushion placed onthelcafr to rer..

duce the shock`- of theltriggerearmfwhenr" thrown back'violently by'impactwithirollerbracket N, attachedv'to the Inail-'crane post',.

Fiv'. 10, according .tofthefspeed' of-thetr'aiii."

arm' is iny position forfoperation, when' itis raised-'by means 'otitsattachmentfto' the catcher-crane 'by the postal 'operator raisin thecatcher to make a catch of' the' .pone hung on the mail-crane, Fig. 10,for that pun.

pose. The trigger-arm at this time is at right angles withy the rocking.,bar of thel catcher C and the car-Amand ailittlelcwer than a horizontalposition to thecarAa and' '11'5.. I. 'attached' tothe mail-cranepost,..rst,f to

s et the 'delivery' mechanism.` in motion;` and, Y second, to lock' thepouch to berreceivedzon" I.

the cars inthe arm of the catcher used to'receive the pouch on thecars.b Whenv the' trigger-arm turns backl from contact 'at 'theVautomatic POint N,.Fig.' 10, toward the car, i

the pouch isin' process of being drawn from the mailcrane hangers by`meansfofzthe'. i catcher-crane C in s'uch a manner that the" -Lfshapedportion of the trigger-arm ,comes in' behind the pouch,`roin the factthat the trigger-arm hasfchanged its osition fromv a right angletorocking bar ,o the catcher C bar of the catcher lC. When the trigger-armby force of the momentum caused by the contact of the trigger-arm to therollerbracket N, Fig. .10, is thrown back to the parallel position tothe car and catcher, then .the cam, Fig. 8, is released and partiallyzoy turns around to locking position to the trigger-arm F.. Thellocking-cam J is held in positibn by means ofthe jaw-.angle of thelocking-cam. The jaw-angle portion of the A locking-cam is heavier thatthe other portion,

and the hole in the cam that the rocking bar catcher goes through is outof center for the purpose of making the jaw portion ofthe' cam heavier.In raising the catcher on its rocking bar to its operating position itis then in a horizontal positionl to the car. The locking-cam j by beinginterlocked in the cam-angles .ze with L part of the triggerarm F israisedinto a corresponding position. When the trigger-arm F is turnedback byl reason of contact-with the rollerlbracket N, it releases thecam y' rom'fits inger-.arm F until the cam y' is released from 'thepressure `against it. Then the cam y' willV again make a turn to aperpendicular position by reason of gravity to the position shown of camy' in Figs. 2, 4,7. In this position the L portion of the trigger-armwill again interlock with the cam-angles 2.2 and release the triggerarmfrom its locking position.

. The cam y' is a Hat piece of steel, Fig. 8, and

vpivoted around the rocking bar ofthe catcher C, as shown, and is heldin position by means of a collar y and set-screw. l

G is the rotary operating-cam, Fig. 5, and is rigidly xed to crank-shaft/r, the crankshaft l iirst going through the slot/t of the slotted barH, forming in this position a guide for the lup-an l-.down movement foiEslotted bar H to the crank-lever li, lo which it is rigidly ailixed, thecrank-lever lt' being in turn connected by chain to crank portion of'the trigger-arm F to the crank portion y. This completes the automaticconnections fron'i the roller` l matic cam The cani (i is a round wheel,of cast-iron', with the cani-notch g supplied with a handle 4(irl forthe purpose ot turning the cam G into, position, so that the eccentric'i will drop into the cam-notch g". this position the cam is ifioperative position. The crank-lever 1li is en 'liet N to the autol .ieoutside ot the car,`

and the crank-shaftok goes througli the side of' the car through slottedbar H and is rigidly iXed to the'operating-cam G.

The bar H'is sl'otted at L and v7L andV is movably supported by means ofthe eccentric vl, which is pivoted to the slottedvbar at 7L and isrotatively supported by the cam G and guided in its up-and-down motionby means of the crank-shaft going through the slot 7L, the bar H beingbetween the cam G and the side wall of the car, and by means of'itsbeing movably supported. at slot hm and bolted'to the side wall of thecar, as is shown in Fig. 2. The slotted bar HvmovesV up and down, as isshown by the dotted lines of bar H in Fig. 2, by means of theretating ofcam G, raising the bar H by means of its connections to theeccentric-wheel rotating out of cam-notch g".

Pivotally connected to the slotted bar H at point is an automatic rodthat has three movements, two by reason of the up-anddown motion ol theautomatic bar H and one by reason of its connectionto the valvelift aand the chain connection of the valvelift a tothe operating-lever b,being amovement horizontally "toward the operating-lever band'corresponding to the movement of the lever b, and by reason of thehorizontal movement releases the valve D from operating position andturns the valve D into a venting-valve for the operating-cylinder);A.

The lvalve-lift a is rigidly clamped to the automatic rod between twonuts'."" This allows the valve-lift av to be raisedA and lowered intoproper adjustment 'with the stems. l The automatic rod connects theautomatic slotted bar H on the insideotI the ear, down through the looror bottom of the car,

`loo valve? to the automatic self-ventingfvalve-lilt (t underneath andoutside of the car.

The automatic rod works up` and down.

for the same reasons and purposes claimed for theA slotted bar H, andthe dotted lines at the pivotal point and at the vante-lift (tcorrespond with the dotted lines showing the .up-and-down movement otthe slotted bar H, Fig. 2. The automatic rod zc turns' in a horizontalmovement corresponding tothe horizontal f movement of the cam lift(Shown by the dotted lines ot' the valve-'lift a. in Fig. 1.)' Whenthevalre-lilt r1l is inthis po- IIC sition, the valve-stem s can drop tothe side oi. 1

valve-lift (L, closing .the valve l2, Fig. 3, as an `V operating-valveand opens the valve D as a' venting-valve y .f

The downmovement of the slotted bar H and automatier(d .111.a'mi'ronneet-ing valvelil't a is made by turning tberotary cam tlf, bymeans ol" the handle dd. to a position vto receive the eecentrie fi intothe earn-notch 51". lllhen the eccentric yis loweredfinto thee-amnotch 9the slotted bar H and its connecting-rod zr," and valve-lift 1. arelowered into a corresponding Figs. 1 and 2. -VVh'en the automatic'bar Hgency operation-bar c.

strikes the beveled and its connections drop to vvthe position of thedotted lines, as shown in the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, thevalve-lift a has drop ed out of contact (side contact) of the va vestems, allowing the `valve-lift e to rotate` back into operatin ositionunder the valvestern s by means olii iiandle and return coilspringattached thereto, as shown in'Fig. v2, of valve-stem s. v

h is an L-shaped automatic' locking device for the delivery-.frame E andis pivotally clamped to the rod and pivotally attached tothe side ofthevcar and works back and forth in the slot h* and is raised and lowered inconnectionwiththe raisin and lowerin of the rod When the de iverv-framen is raised into the car, the loutside of the frame ortion of the latchwhich forces the latc back in such a manner that the delivery-framepasses below the latch h. When in this position, the `latch h settles bygravity* into the position shown by the dotted lines 'of latch 71. 1nFig. 2;

K2 is a pressure-gage for air and is Ivcon-- nected to .a 'supply-pipe abelow the floor. of the car. The ressure-gageisfused to show the'amounto air-pressure in the leXtra or mail auxiliary compressed-air reservoir.

ec are lugs supporting pivotally an emer- 'lhis bar is connect'- edtoautomatic bar H by means of a' chain c, which winds around bar c.

cc represent the handle to the emergency- 'bar c to rotate-bar 'c' with,and the winding of the'chain c" around the bar c raises the automaticbar H and its connections, the rod 93" and its connections, thevalve-lifta, which operates the valve D, setting in o eration thecompressed-air mechanism for t ie purposes set forth.

I is the chain-guide for the operating-chain a", connection between thedelivery-frame E, and the operating-cylinder A. The chainguide I is astirrup, of cast-iron or other suitable material, with a bevel-edgedconcaved edge roller-wheel for chain to roll von, and in connection withthe lbail g and the deliveryframe and the hingelock j, and with theair-pressure mechanism directs'a'nd controls the manner and thedirection ofthe delivery of the mail or other-matter from the car. x

The receivin -box, Fig, 9, is built of posts, dimension-lumer,`scree'n-wire," or any other suitable material,l and,V can be placed, sixfeet from the nearest rail.v The back side of the boxv-is made aboutfourand one-half -feet high andthe front side orwside `nearest the trackis made about two and one-half feet high and are made of any suitablematerial. The length is made according-to what is the usual speed of thetrain, the length needing dposition or to thev position.

to be about, in feet, two-thirds of the miles per hour ofthe speed ofthe train. The width varies according and one-half'feet.The'receiving-.box Inailcrane, Fi s. 9, 1 0, would be the arran ementlfor a' dou letrack railroad. The ad itional to the amount of thedel`spatchof mails, but willvaverageabouttwo' equi ment for asingle-track railroad would be t e ,air-cushion box O for the open 'endof Fig. 9 and an additional mail-crane, Fig. 10,l at 'the other end andthe mail-crane post equipped with roller-bracket N. To arf range 'thisreceiving-box to receive.A the despatch of mails between a double orfour track road, the back-wall Rv would'be hinged in the middle of itslhei ht from the ground in a manner to turn own to 'the height of the v.

front wall Q, and the front'wall q would be.

built in a similar manner as the back wall R, when it could be raised`and lowered in the same manner and for the same purposes.

O is the dead-air space or the air-cushion. i

ing, as isshownby dotted lines ,of door P.

t is considered a delivery of mail or .other end, the door P hinged atthe top and s wingi matter placed on the delivery-frame for that purposefor it to be deliveredinto any portion of the receiving-box in a ,sa-ieand regular manner. y l

N, Fig. 10, is a roller, of wood or other suitable material, rounded, so.that in contact with trigger-arm F it will roll. A portion of theroller is turned smaller, sothat the shoulder will form a support forthe roller in the eyes of the bracket bh N; made to receive it. Theroller n constitutes the contact-point of tion of t e deliveringmechanism.

`the trig rer-arm F and theV automatic opera- The mail-crane post, Fig.10, is' a pattern A of the mail-crane now in gcneraluse.

gg gg, Fig. 1], represent a bracket and guide to the delivery-frame E,keeping the delivery-frame lfrom turning under thecar and directs theframe E downward in such a manner'as to throw the top part of the frameEback, so that the frame will latch to the ,side of the car by means ofthe letchf, Fig. 4.

This bracket and guide gg is cushioned tothe truss-rods nf the car bymeans of a piece ofhose placed around the truss-rod and between the rodand the truss-rods.,

In operation the cam-notch g" is to receive the eccentric i. Thedelivery' frame -E is then raised into the car with an iron hook orother means. Place the mail or other packages to be delivered on thedlivery-frame, and-with a train in motionA and passing the mail-cranepost and by contact with the roller-bracket and trigger-arm F themechanism willbe set in motion, that will despatch the mails orotherpacke esinto the receiving-box and lock the vpoucjxlhlun on the cranefor delivery to the car lsecure y in the' catcher. 1l" j From theforegoing description, taken in adjusted i 55 f pivotally attached tosaid cars, a compressedconnection with the accompanying drawings, vinodeof operation and advantages of my in- 'ventin will be readilyunderstood, and various changes in form, proportion, and minor detailsof my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofmy invention or sacrificing any of the principles oradvanta es thereof.

What claim as new isl. In a delivery mechanism for railwaycars, .thecombinationof adeliveringframe I delivering-frame and l sai'dle'ver'automati ally,- whereby said delivcars, the "comb' tio p ivotallyattacln to .f

having'a'pivotal attachment'fto said cars, a

compressed-air-'operating cylinder having a' pistonpivotally Vattachedto a swinging o perating-lever, which is ivota'lly attached to 4saidcars, andto vsaid elivering-frame, and

means'for automatically swinging said lever whereby saiddelivering-frame is tilted and dumped, substantially as set forth. i

' 2. In a delivering mechanism for railwaycars, the combination of adelivering-frame p ivotally attached to said cars, acompressedair-operating cylinder having a piston pivotally attached to aswinging lever which is pivotallyattached tosaid cars, and to saidmeansfor operating ering-frame is tilted and dumped, a' rubbercushionedlocking-bar for the purpose of checking the tilting of thedelivery-frame at pivot-points of the hin e and delivery-frame, andforming a crankIeverage and making the hinge turn on its pivotal pointsnext to the car,I whereby the tiltingand dumping of the delivery-frameis regulated and conf trolled, substantially as set forth.

y3. In a delivering mechanism for railway- ,i cars', acompressedair-operating cylinder, having a piston pivotally attachedto aswinging operating-lever,

said lever being pivotally attached 'to' said cars, and tosaiddelivery-frame, and means wal'lo'r guide attache-d to said-frame ina pivforl operating said levers wherebysaid delivering-frame is tiltedand dumped, a back otal manner, to keep the mail-sacks pouches or other'packages placed on the deliveringframe, froinsli ping off from the frameby means of centritliigal force, 'and for the purpose of guiding andregulating the angle of the deof the mail-sacks and other matter liverinbeing' elivered, substantially as set forth;

' 4. Inf'a delivering mechanism for railwaycars,' the :combination of adeliveryframe air-operating cylinder, having apiston pivotally attachedto a swinvin'g operating "said ,lever bein cars and'` to said maticmeans for operating said levers, where'- by said delivery-frame is.tilted and dumped, a rubber-cushioned locking-bar,.a backwall ever.,ivota ly attached to said and angle-of-delivery guide for mail-sacks, a1

chain-guidethat by reason ofits position-un- '.f a 'delivery-frame,

elivering-frame and auto* ally attached to a swinging operating-lever,

said lever* beinor pivotally attached to said cars, and to saidelivering-frame, and automatic means for operating said levers, wherebysaid delivering-frame is tilted and dumpedpa rubber-cushionedlocking-bar, a-

Sol.

back wall and angle-of-delivery guide for mail-sacks, a chain-guide byreason of its position, a bracket rigidly attached underneath the carand guides the delivering-frame in its descent and keeps the saiddelivering-frame from tilting under the car and coming in con,- tactwith the chain-guide, as substantially set forth. k

6. In a delivering mechanismv for railwaycars, the'combination of -adelivering-frame pivotally attached to said cars, acompressedair-operating cylinder, having a piston pivotally attached toa swinging operating-lever, said lever bein'g pivtally attached Ato saiddelivering-frame, and'autoinatie means for operating said lever, wherebysaid deliveringframe istilted and dumped, a bracket rigidly attached tothe car underneath forming a support and uide for the delivering-frame,a latch pivoterI purposes'set forth, and as substantially d escri ed.

7. In a, delivering mechanism for railwayc ars, the combination of adelivering-frame p ivotally attached to said cars, a compressedair-operating cylinder, having a piston ivot-I ally attached to a swining lever, sai

being pivotally attache to said cars and dellvering-frame, and automaticmeans for op- IOC to the side of the car,ifor the 'les erating saidlever, whereby said deliveringf frame is tilted and dumped, apiston-rodcon-y nection between said piston 4and 'swinginglever, a returncoil-spring around said pistonrod, for purposes set forth, and assubstantiallyldescribed.

8. In a delivering mechanism for railway-v air-operatingcylinder, havinga piston pivotally attached to a swin ing lever, said lever beingpivotally attache livering-frame, and means to automatically actuatesaid lever, a slack-chain connection between said lever and thevalve-lift, for the cars, the combinationof a delivering-frame v pivotally attached to said cars, a compressedto saidl cars and,;dev f25`purpoes set forth and as substantially de- A e I 9. Ina deliveringmechanism for railway- I cars, the combination of a delivery-framepivotallyattached to said cars, a.compressed-'1 air-,operating cylinder,.having described.

f ss

adpiston pivotaliyjconnected toits piston-ro a swin lever, pivotallyattached to'said cars, an to said vdeliv'ering-fir ame, y'and means forautomat'icallyv actuating :said lever, whereby said' deliver' -frameistilted and dumped,jan

, extra o r 4mai compressed-air reservoir, andj ,ausiply-pipefconnectmg'th'e extra or mail iary compressed-air reservoir, with the zocompressed-air-operating cylinder, as means to actuate the said'cylinder,V afcheck-valve controlling the admission of com ressed airV :olever, livotally attached'to said cars, and to the saiddelivering-frame, and means for auto'maticallyactuating said lever,whereby the said delivering frame is tilted and dumped, an extra 'ormailf auxiliary com- 2 5 pressed-air reservoir, and a supply-pipe con-vnectingthe extra or mail axiliaryreservoir e operating-cylinder, asmeans of admittingthe'compressed air into the operat-,.

with t Y ing-cflinder, van operatin automatic valve,

3o' for t epurpose of provi ing means for the admission oftlije'co'i'ripressed air to the op'erating-cylinder, assubstantially setforth and 1 1. In a deliveringm'echanism for railwaycars,the combinationof a' delivering-frame pivotally attached to said cars, acompressedair-operating cylinder, having a iston pivotally connected. toits piston-ro a swin ing lever vivotally.attached tosaid cars, an to 4osaid. elivering-rame, and meansfor automatically actuating said lever,whereby the said delivering-'frame is tilted and dum '4 ed,

an 'extra or mai r auxiliary compresse -air reservoir, a supply-pipe asmeans of supplyin the compressed air to the operating-cyli in er, aslack-cham connection between the swinging operating-leverand thevalve-lift, a

, valve that relieves the pressure of air in the o eratingcylinder,'andallows by the means 5o o the reduction of air-pressure iii vsaidcylinder, for the swinging lever, and.its connections to the 'piston toreturn to an operating position, by means set forth and substantiallydescribed.V

cars, the combination of a delivering-frame pivotall y attached to saidcars a compressedair-operatiiig cylinder, having a piston pivotallyattached to a swinging lever pivotallyA 6o vattached to said cars andsaid delivering- 'frame`, and means for automatically actuat- 'ing saidlever, wherebyr said delivering-Trame is .tilted and dumped, an '6r mailauxiliary reservoir, a supplV-pipe as means of supplying-the compressedair to the oper- 12. In a d livering mechanism forrailwayating-cylinder, an' operating automatic valve,

erating automatic ventingvalve, a slac verand the valve-lift, avalve-lift, and means for automatically actuating` the same, as setforth,` and substantially described.

13. In adelivering mechanism forrailwaycars, the combination of adelivering-frame pivotally attached to said cars,`a compressedallyconnected to a swinging lever pivotally attached to said cars anddeliverin drame,

same whereby the said delivering-frame is iliary compressed-airreservoir, a supply-pipe as means of supplying the compressed air to theoperating-cylinder a small pi e connection between the extra or mailauxiliary compressed-air reservoir, and the regular compressed airVauxiliary reservoir, as a source of supply of air-pressure tothe extray check-valve insaidsupply-pipe Vto retain the pressure in the saidextra' or mail auxiliary lcompressed-air reservoir, when the pressure inthe use of compressed air in operating the 'brakes' o1; for otherpurposes, lby means of these connections'thc compressed air can be usedas an operating force yin the operatingcylinder used to operate thissystem of mai their operation, aiid as the regularauxiliarycompressed-air reservoir charges with pressure slower thanl thetrain-pipes, and the ,chain connection between the operating-lef"air-operating cylinder, having a piston pivot-` and meansforautomatically actua ing the tilted and dumped, an extra or mailauxdelivering, without affecting the brakes orv an operating automaticcheck-valve, an o or mail compressed-air reservoir, and a is reducedinthe regular auxiliary reservoir.

source of supply to the eXtra-or mail auxv iliary compressed-airreservoir being smaller than the source to said regular auxiliarycompressed-air reservoir, causes the extra or lf i) air-pressure stillslower, whereby the regular source of supply of com ressed air can atall times keep up the equili rium of air-pressure 'in the train- 'ipesand the regular auxiliary reservoir, an allow for the use ofair-pressure auxiliary reservoir to charge withA IIC taken from thesource of supply to the aiibrake system, to actuate the necessarymechanism to operate this system of mail delivery, as set forth, anddescribed.

14. ln a delivering mechanism for railwayt and means for operating thesaid compressor, a combination of supply-pipes and operatime; valves,whereby by the arrangement of pipes 'is necessary to actuatethemechanism for mail-delivering purposes, wliereb the airingl mechanism,when releasedinto theoperating-cylinder in actuating the said operatthosaid air-pressure lows when released.. in

cars, the, combination of an air-compressor,

pressure usedinactuating the said deliver-4 ing-'cy indcr mar.'-delivering mechanism,v flows m adlrmztion op 'osite to the directionvalves and reservoirs thecompressed air that the operation of thebraking system, whereby the compressed air can be usedfor the purpose ofactuating the mail-delivering mech-P anism, without setting or affectingthe b rakingl-systein, as set forth, and substantially ldescribed.

I 15. Ina delivering mechanism-for railwaycars, the combination ofy acar, an air-compressor and means for operating the same, aV

combination of supply-pipes, reservoirs and operating-valves, whereby bythe arrangement of pipes, valves, and reservoirs, the compressed airthat is necessary to actuat'e the mail-delivering mechanismfor'maildelivering purposes, whereby the compressed air used inoperating the mail-delivering mechanism, when released into theoperating-cylinder used to operate the said mail-delivering mechanism,flows in a direction opposite tothe direction the said compressed airflows when released in the operation of the braking system on saidcars,whereby the compressed air stored in the auxiliary reservoir of saidcars, for the' purpose of operatin Athe braking system of said cars,jbanbe use for the purpose .of operating the said mail-delivering mechanismfor the purposes set forth, with-lv out "setting'7 or affecting the saidbraking systemof said cars, by means of the taking' of said compressedair for the purpose of operating thev said mail-delivering mechanism forthe purposes set forth, an automatic operating, checking, and ventingvalve, with a sleeve connection being the lower ortion of thechecking-valve as shown, and 'tted with a cushion adapted to engage thestem'portion of the operating-valve used to operate the"k saidchecking-valve,'and adapted, to work in said sleeve of saidchecking-valve and against said cushion inlsaid sleeve for the purposesset forth and described, with a stem portion of thesaid operating-valve,extending to the outside of the supporting-frame of said valve, as ameans of operating said valve, for the purposes set forth, and assubstantially described.

16. In a delivering mechanism lfor railwaycars, the combination of anoperating, achecking, and a venting valve,"with a sleeve connectionbetween the oper-ating portions of said valve, means for4 operating saidvalve from the inside of the said cars, for the purpose of setting saiddelivering mechanism in ni'otion, for the tially'described.

17. In a delivering mechanism forrailwaycars, 'the combination ofia carand deliveringframe pivo-tally attached to said car, a latch for saiddelivering-frame attached to said car, and the said delivering-framelatched in 'a manner described, a step made in the delivering-'frame forythe purposes named, and as substantially described 18. In a deliveringmechanism for railwaycars, the combination of a delivering-frai-ne,

purposes named, and as substanf an air-operating cylinder, and means foractuating the same by air-pressure, an extra or mail auxiliarycompressed-air reservoir, an air-pressure gage, connected by sup-vply-pipe to the" extra or mail auxiliary air-reservoir, for the`purposes named and set 1forth.

`19.' In 'a mail receiving and delivering mechanism for railway-cars,the combination of a car, a catcher-crane pivotally attached to saidcar,and'adapted to rock from a horizontal tov a perpendicular position, anautomatic trigger-arm pivotally attached to said catcher-crane, .adaptedto rotate rearwardly to the position of the lcatcher-crane, for thescriied.

v20.In a mailreceiving land delivering mechanism, for railway-cars, thecombination of a car, a catcher-crane pivotally attached to said car, anautomatic trigger-arm purposes named, and as substantially depivotallyattached to said catcher-crane and adapted to rotate rearwardly to theposition of the catcher-crane, and means to automatica'lly operate saidtrigger-arm, an L-shaped `portion of the trigger-arm,'used 'as acranklever, for the purposes set forth.

tion'of la car, a catcher-crane pivotally attached to said car, andadapted to rock from a perpendicular to a horizontal or operativeposition, an-automatic trigger-arm pivotally attached to said crane andadapted to rotate rearwardly to the position of the catchercrane, andmeans to automatically operate said trigger-arm, a' crank or -L-shapedvportion ofthe trigger-arm, a rotary operatingcam, connected by means ofa chain attached catcher-crane, and meansl to automatically" operatesaid trigger-arm, a crank on the L- l2,1. vIn a mail receiving anddelivering` mechanism, for railway-cars, the combinayloo I'IlOl shapedportion of theI trigger-arm, arotary cam pivotallyattached'to saidcrank, a slotted automatic operating-bar movabl4 sup-` ported and guidedby the' crank-sha t connection to the said l -shaped portion of thetrigger-arm, and movably supported by being bolted to the sidewall ofthcar, with an eccentric pivoted in a vertical position to the slottedautomatic `bar, and'adapted to it in the cam-notch offthe said ro.` tarycani and by automatic 'fmeans in the operation of the saidtrigger-armandits connections to the said' rotary earn and cause centricout ofthe cam-notch, as set. forth and substantially, described.

the' said cam to rotate, and rotate the said ec- 23. In a mail receivingand delivering mechanism for railway-cars, the combination of a car acatcher-crane pivotal-ly attached to said car, and adapted to rock froma vertical to a horizontal oroperative position, an automatictrigger-arm pivotally connected to said catcher-crane and adapted torotate rearwardly to the position of' thev and-down movement, 'andpivotally attached to said slotted bar, for the puV se of allowing theautomatic rod lan ad itinal movement in' a horizontal'manner, by meansof its rigid connection to the valve-lift, said valve-lift beingconnected to the swinging automatic lever, by slack-chain connection, asset forth, and substantially described.

24.A In a mail 'receiving and delivering mechanism for railway-cars, thecombinav tion of a cal" a catcher-crane pivotall .at-

tached to sai car a trigger-arm pivotal y attached to said catcher-craneand means for automatically operating trigger-arm, a rota cam a slottedbar an automatic rod, rigid y attached for 'the up-and-down moveuntofthe slotted automatic bar, a crank-l locking lever pivotally attached tosaid car, and raised out of its lock by the u Vmovement of the automaticrod, and use tolock the delivering-frame into a position for oper.-

' ation, as set -forth, and substantially described.

25. In a Inail receiving and delivering mechanism for railway-cars, thecombination of a car, a catcher-crane pivotall attached to said car, atrig er-arm ivotaliy attached to said crane, an means or automaticallyvoperating said trigger-arm, a rotary cam, a slotted bar, an automaticrod with a handle attached to vsaid rod, said handle being connected tothe side of the car by means of a coil return-spring, for the purpose ofreturning the valve-lift into operative osition, and by means of theleverage in sai handle, turn the valve-lift out of operatingpositicnmanually in cases of emergency, as set forth, 4

and substantially described.

'26. In a mail receiving and delivering mechanism for' railway-cars, thecombination'of a car a catcher-crane pivotally attached to said car andada ted to rock on its pivots from a vertical to a ori zontal or oper`ating position, an L-shaped automatic trigger-arm pivotally attached tosaid crane and adapted to rotate rearwardly to the position of thecatcher-crane', and automatic means for operating said trigger-arm, theL portion Y 'of the trigger-arm being parallel to the rocking bar of thecatcher-crane, the automatic operationof thetrigger-arm brings the` Lon.V

crank portion ofthe trigger-arm to a right angle-to the position of therocking bar of said catcher-crane, and in this position forms abag-locking mechanism to the catchercrane, as set forth, andsubstantially described.

' Z7. In a mail-receiving andr'delivering mechanism for railway-cars,the combina-- tion of a ear,a catcher-crane pvotally at-x' tachedthereto, a trigger automatic arm attached pivctally to the saidcatcher-crane, the L-shaped portion of the said trigger-arm being in aparallel position to the rocking bar of the catcher-crane, by means ofthe automatic connection of the catcher-crane in its the mail-crane, thesaid trigger-arm is forced rearwardly to the position of thecatchercrane, bringing the L or locking-crank portion ofthe trigger-arminto a Vright-angle position to the rocking bar of saidv catchercraneand forming a sack-locking mechanism for the catcher-crane, as setforth, andV substantially described.`

28. I n a mail receiving and delivering mechanism for railway-cars, thecombination of a car, a catcher-crane pivotally attached thereto, atrigger-arm pivotally attached to said catcher-crane and rotatingrearwardl to the position to the said catchercrane, Wit lthe L part ofsaid trigger-arm in a parallel position `tothe rocking bar of the saidcatcher-crane, a locking-cam pivotally attached to said rocking barofsaid catchercrane and I`fitted with jaw-angles adapted to interlock withthe L .or crank portion of the triggerarm,for the (purposes named, andsubstantially describe 29. In a mail receiving and delivering mechanismfor railway-cars, the combination of a car, having a car-door, a,catcher-crane pivotally attached to said car andcar-door, an automatictrigger-arm pivotally attached to said catcher-crane and adapted torotate rearwardly to the position of the .catcher-crane saidcatcher-crane adapted to rock into'operative position on its pivotalpoints and carrying the automatic triggerarm into its operativeposition, with the movement of said catcher-crane, a's set forth, andsubstantiall described.

30. In a mail receiving and delivering mechanism for railway-cars, thecombination of a car, a catcher-crane pivotally attached to said car, anautomatic tri ger-arm pivot` ally attached to said catc er-crane andadapted to rotate rearwardlyto the position of said catcher-crane, andsaid trigger-arm vautomatic contact with the roller-bracketon adapted tocontact with the .rollervbracket rigidly attached-1t() the inail-cranepost, ...b

means of rubber-cushioningthe connectingbolts of the triggenarm for thepurpose of removing thel shock of the contact With said. roller-bracket,and means .for cushioning the side of the said car for the purpose ofremoving the shock ofthe impact of. the triggerarm against,the'sideof-said car, as set forth, ,and substantiallydescribed.. f

@31, Ina mailreceiving anddelivering mechanism for railway-cars, thecombinationy fof a car a. patchen-crane pivotally y attached to .Saidcar, a trigger-arm pivotallyattached .\to saidcatcher-crane and adaptedLto rotate .rearwardlylto .the position ofthelcatcher- 3o .adaptedto'roll of a carJ a catcher-crane ypivotally.attached tn said car, anautomatictlfigger-arm pivot- I5'.

allyttached to .said catcher-crane.. and

.adapted I,to rotate. rearwardly to'thepositionH ey catcherycijane,amail-cranepost `uri-th a roller-(bracket rigidly attached thereto,- andonlits supportin bearings by contact. l of"V the. triggerarm-A a Orth,and; substantially: de-

.mechanism for railyvayfcars7 the combination crane andadaptedto.-bexraised.into operative position by means of the rocking of thesaid .catcheri-craneinto operativeposition, a mail-l ,Qranedpost with arollembracket Irigidlyat- .tache thereto,l said bracket'adapted toengage the, said.v trigger-arm in its automatic operation..o the`elivering .mechanism whereby .the -said;.delive'lrn' .mechanism istilted and dumped,v mmm fcrane with a adapted: .t0 engage. the trigVer-arn1j-inits automatic op ...erationas set.r scribed., y -32. Indmail?. receiving,andpdelivering pouchl .suspended inv position. to;.be.-received ysaid catchercrane in the passin ofthe car, areceiving-box stationed on. t el right of Way to receivethe.mailto-bedeliveredias and bymeansas set forth and thepassinggofsaid. car,\the' pouch suspended on Athe-said crane is received'v by saidcatchercraneand locked ,automatically in said catchezfcrane, asset-forth and ,substantiallydescribed.

set forth, bymeans of the'passing `of the car,

. v33.,In amail receiving f; andldelivelllg mechanism .forrailv'v'ay-cars, avreceiving-*box lat the v-top andadaptedto-swin-.iin-v at high standers,.and to direct mail despatched from a y Imovingl. train, toward the. ,airrcushionfedf WalLlOW to not, inter# ere withvthe despatched mailgoin intothe iends, and a low front saidreceiving-boxyandhigh enoug to'ileep the despatched mail from beingdrawnfoutof the .said 'receivingbox bykairrctarient's vfor stantiallydescribed.

In testimony. whereof 'L have 4signed-qm'yname to this speoic'ationinthepresence-,vof l.two subscribing witnesses. 7

' f .FRMfsliKldNj,H,-fl-Llli.y Liwitnesses: l

D. S. ELDmDGE,

. C. P..HUBBARD. n

